Energy Efficiency: What Do All Those Ratings Really Mean?

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Do you know how the SEER military rating on your new atmosphere conditioner impacts your zip bank note ? How about HSPF of your estrus ticker ? Does your menage meet NGBS standard ?

The acronyms used to rank theenergy efficiencyof a home and everything in it can be perplexing . However , decrypt them and understanding what they mean is the key to reducing your home base ’s carbon paper step , improving its indoor air quality , and unlock energy savings in your current or future family . Ahead , learn what some of the most crucial rating mean , so you could take advantage of the savings they bid .

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1. Energy Star

One of the most common phrases and rating systems used to draw the energy efficiency of gizmo and construction mathematical product isEnergy Star . Its ratings assist shopper compare the energy efficiency of washing machine , refrigerator , air conditioners , light bulb , windows , doors , hotness pump , and other electronics and gismo .

product that haveEnergy Starratings have meet the high-pitched criterion for energy efficiency set by the Environmental Protection Agency . While they often cost more , Energy Star appliances and building intersection usually provide utility bill delivery .

2. National Green Building Standard

If you want a comprehensive follow-up that give away your home ’s energy efficiency from basement to cap , then the National Green Building Standard ( NGBS ) is a useful shaft . The NGBS has a set of standard for architects , builder , and developer for constructing homes that are Energy Department effective and environmentally sustainable .

Standards cover water and energy efficiency , indoor air quality , the use of sustainable building materials and practice , tree saving , and low maintenance landscape gardening . hunting for NGBS certified habitation throughout the country on theassociation ’s website .

3. SEER 2

Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2 ( SEER2 ) is used to rate the vim efficiency of some of the big energy users in any home – the air conditioner , gas furnace , and heating pump . SEER2 ratings , which supervene upon the originalSEERratings in January of this year , lead from 14 to 21 .

The higher the SEER2 paygrade , the more efficient the heat pump or melody conditioner . How much more efficient ? While you ’ll pay more for air conditioner and heat pumps with a higher SEER rating , you could expect to save about 7 percent on your electric bill for each social unit of SEER .

4. LEED

LEED is a enfranchisement earned for buildings that areenergy efficient , have a lowly carbon footprint , and promote respectable indoor air quality . The U.S. Green Building Council ( USGBC ) awards point free-base on a inspection process and gives out four degree of certifications , with Platinum as its highest level .

LEED covers all types of buildings , including residential . Ratings for domicile are find out by reviewing all of the major systems of a home , from indoor air timber to Department of Energy and water efficiency to the use of sustainable building material .

5. EER

exchangeable to SEER , Energy Efficiency Ratings are used to grade tune conditioners and high temperature pumps . Whereas SEER rates the overall performance of warming and cool off systems , EER is used to rate the social unit ’s cool down efficiency at the peak cool down temperature of 95 degrees Fahrenheit .

Many producer list their EER , but you’re able to also calculate it yourself by dividing the air conditioner ’s cooling turnout , which is given in BTU , by its wattage . The most energy efficient windowpane and ductless air conditioning units have an EER of 12 or above .

6. HSPF

HSPF , which digest for Heating Seasonal Performance Factor , is to air - origin heating system pumps what SEER military rating are to gentle wind conditioner . An HSPF military rating determine a warmth pump ’s heating efficiency .

To calculate HSPF , fraction the overall estrus output by the amount of electricity it habituate . HSPF ratings range from 8.2 to 13 with anything above 8.2 deliberate efficient enough to take in an Energy Star rating . Today ’s most energy effective heat pump have an HSPF rating of around 10 .

7. AFUE

Just as heat pumps and air conditioners have efficiency ratings , so do furnaces . A furnace ’s one-year Fuel Utilization Efficiency ( AFUE ) evaluation assure you the percentage of the fuel it ’s burn that ’s actually change into heating plant and what percentage is lose to expel .

A furnace with an AFUE of 88 converts 88 per centum of the fuel it burn into high temperature while 12 percent is lose to exhaust . high-pitched efficiency furnace have an efficiency rating of 90 pct or greater .

8. Enterprise Green Communities Certification

An Enterprise Green Communities Certification is collapse to affordable trapping communities that observe strict guideline covering vigor efficiency , environmental responsibility , and indoor atmosphere lineament .

These communities are made up of energy - effective home with construction material that are free of harmful chemicals . They also feature outdoor play areas , biotic community garden , and landscape gardening that apply plant aboriginal to the area .

9. HERS

If you ’re buying or selling a home , you may have run into a full term known as theHERS Indexor HERS Score . HERS , which stands for Home Energy Rating System , is used by the Department of Energy to measure a plate ’s overall vigour efficiency compare to other house . The lower the grudge , the more efficient the nursing home . The fair resale home has a rating of 130 on the scale while a new home has an average evaluation of around 100 .

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